GC Biopharma said on the 14th that it signed a strategic memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the German global science and technology corporations Merck Life Science to cooperate on biopharmaceutical development and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production processes.
Under the agreement, the two companies plan to strengthen cooperation on supplying raw and subsidiary materials needed for biopharmaceutical production and to promote manufacturing process efficiency and supply stability.
GC Biopharma plans to secure a stable production system for key products such as the plasma-derived fractionated product "Alyglo," launched in the U.S. market, and the Hunter syndrome treatment "Hunterase," to meet global demand.
Merck will provide a cooperation framework covering the entire production process, from securing raw materials to process technology support. It plans to minimize supply chain risk by stably supplying product lots that meet its internal quality control standards.
The two companies will operate a regular technology and process council to share the latest process technologies and quality control capabilities and will also seek joint research and development (R&D) opportunities.
Shin Ung, head of operations at GC Biopharma, said, "This collaboration will serve as an opportunity to strengthen the production and supply base for key rare disease treatments and essential medicines," adding, "We will minimize manufacturing risk through technological cooperation and process optimization."
Kim Young-im, head of Process Solutions Business at Merck Life Science, said, "We will support the optimal production environment to ensure GC Biopharma's core therapies can be supplied stably."